Aerosol Insecticides The aerosol industry as a whole has certainly faced its share of challenges. While the insecticide market is just a small slice of the aerosol pie, it may also be a barometer for industry health. Insecticides face many challenges that the entire industry faces, but also must contend with a multitude of their own challenges. Through examination of the current environment and trends, perhaps a blueprint can be developed for the future success of both aerosol insecticides and aerosols in general. Technological Environment The world of insecticide aerosols is not getting any simpler. Historically, most products were either water out or oil out with one or more active ingredient. Now, formulators are relying on a wider range of formulations, including suspensions in the can and microencapsulation to increase residual efficacy of the products. These new formulations, along with new actives, require new systems—solvents, emulsifiers and suspension agents. Chemists cannot rely on historical data for assurance. While new actives can change the environment, the fact is that they arise very infrequently. The list of potential insecticide classes of chemistry is limited and the development cycle can be a decade long with costs in the tens of millions of dollars in order to get new chemistry to market. 30 Spray February 2015 Don Berthiaume Custom Solutions Market Manager, MGK Active ingredient challenges and trends for the future This paper was originally presented at the Southern Aerosol Technical Association (SATA) Fall Meeting. Chemical Class Active Ingredient Pyrethroids Permethrin Phenylpyrazole Fipronil Avermectin Abamectin Botanical Pyrethrins Neonicotinoids Imidacloprid Insect Growth Regulators Pyriproxyfen Retail Market Environment The battle for retail shelf space rages on with the “big box” stores becoming even more important. Continued industry consolidation means there are fewer, bigger brands available at fewer, bigger retailers. It is difficult to gain shelf presence without a well-known brand, the lowest cost or true innovation. With that in mind, packaging has and likely will continue to drive innovation. The explosion of social media has given consumers more power. They have the ability to research and purchase aerosols online. Public feedback on health, social and environmental issues has become instantaneous and sometimes overwhelming for retailers and marketers to manage. Public opinion, even when not based on fact, is forcing a retail response. Simply look at the Subway azodicarbonamide bread ingredient issue or the neonicotinoid ban at Home Depot as examples. When the public expects answers in seconds and the market requires time to execute meaningful change, certain fallout naturally occurs as retailers attempt to respond to consumer pressure even before regulators act. Regulatory Environment The single most prominent issue facing the insecticide industry today is the assault on neonicotinoids as they relate to pollinator health. This is not the proper place to discuss this very real, complex issue in depth. However, the official government report on bee colony numbers does not reflect the severity that has been displayed in the media. The most
Spray Feb 2015
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